Urban Gardening: Sun-Loving vs. Shade Tolerant Plants 

When I first started gardening, I assumed more sun = better garden. I mean, plants love sunlight, right? Well, I learned the hard way that it's not all one size fits all. Go figure! Some plants love the heat (eg. Peppers) while others would rather hang out in the cool shade, sipping metaphorical iced tea (eg. Spinach). 

Of course, I didn’t know any of this at the start. Thankfully, my mum—aka my personal garden guru—stepped in once again and helped me figure out which crops were sun-seekers and which preferred a bit of shade cover. With that, and some real trial and error on my part, I'm ready to share what I've learned, to save you the trouble 😅

1. Sun-Loving Crops (6+ hours of direct sun a day)

These divas want full sunlight and lots of it. Give them enough sun & heat and they’ll reward you with juicy fruits, vibrant colors, and fast growth. Some balcony superstars:

Tomatoes – Love heat, hate cold. Give them full sun. 

Peppers – Need steady warmth and sun.

Cucumbers – Love sun but keep them watered or they will wilt.

Beets – Sun lovers!

Eggplants – Thrive in heat, great for sunny balconies.

Zucchini & Summer squash – Big plants that love the sun (may need large containers).

Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano – Mediterranean herbs that adore sunshine.

Tip: These plants love sun but keep an eye on watering—they can dry out fast in containers.

2. Shade-Tolerant Crops (2–4 hours of direct sun or bright indirect light)

These plants don’t mind less light and often prefer cooler conditions. They grow more slowly, but they’re great for balconies with limited sun—think east-facing or tucked-away corners. Some low-light croptions:

Lettuce & Salad greens – Actually prefer cooler, shady spots. Too much sun and they bolt (aka go to seed).

Spinach & Arugula – Grow well in partial shade and taste less bitter.

Kale & Chard – Can handle some sun, but do fine with just a few hours.

Peas – Prefer full sun but will grow in partial shade (they may not be as productive or sweet as in full sun).

Mint – Shade? No problem. 

Parsley, cilantro – Happy in part-shade, especially in warmer months.

Tip: Shade doesn’t mean no light. These plants still need a few hours of dappled or indirect light each day. Morning sun + afternoon shade is ideal.

3. Mixed Light? No Problem

If your balcony gets a few hours of sun in the morning and then shade the rest of the day, don’t worry—you can still grow a variety of things! Try mixing sun-lovers and shade-tolerant crops based on where the light hits throughout the day. When I was gardening on a small balcony I would rotate pots around to give certain plants a little boost.

If you only take one thing away from this: Gardening in a small space may not be one size fits all but with a little bit of planning even a shady corner can become a little garden oasis. Try spending a day observing where the sun hits and for how long— it may save you a gardening fail or two in the long run. 

Happy Growing :)